Are you tired of working in the office for eight hours a day, five days a week? You are not the only one who feels this way. Luckily there are different ways to escape the nine to five rat race and start working remotely.
We assure you by the time you finish reading this article; you will know how to find a remote job and become a digital nomad.
5 steps on how to become a digital nomad?
Now that you are seriously considering becoming a digital nomad, it is time to learn where and how to find your first remote job. You will not regret adopting the liberating lifestyle that is self-supportive and very rewarding.
Here is how to do it:
1. Identify your skills
The first step on your journey to becoming a digital nomad is to identify what you are good at and understand how you can bring value to a company or client. Once you’re a specialist within a certain area or industry, you’re able to monetize your skills and sell your services as a freelancer or by acquiring a remote contract with a company.
If you don’t have a long work experience, you may find it hard to define a specific skill set that makes you unique and valuable. But don’t worry! Some remote jobs have a low entry-level, which will set you off to a good start as a digital nomad.
Furthermore, it is never too late to acquire new competencies and skills, and with the internet, it has never been easier to pick up new skills and expand your expertise. You can find a lot of free resources online or sign-up to a learning platform like Skillshare, where you can require new skills such as coding, video editing, copywriting, etc.
2. Join an online community
Having a good network can be crucial for your success as a digital nomad. You should surround yourself with like-minded people and focus on building a strong network.
Many job opportunities never get listed online, so knowing the right people can lead to new clients and business opportunities.
Knowing other digital nomads will be extremely beneficial in terms of making friendships along your journey and getting advice on travel destinations and the best business structure.
A good way of meeting like-minded digital nomads is by joining an online community. There are plenty of online forums and social media groups that facilitate knowledge sharing among digital nomads.
When it comes to the social aspect of finding your community. You can join apps like Meetup – a platform that allows you to meet new people with similar interests when you move to a new place.
3. Reduce your monthly costs
Being a full-time digital nomad involves reducing operating costs to get maximum profits. If you wish to succeed in the remote profession, it is time to terminate the rental lease on your house or apartment and become a real “nomad”.
If you own a house or an apartment, you can post the property on Airbnb to save costs while you are away travelling. You can also find a long-term tenant to supplement your income.
Another important financial step on your journey to becoming a digital nomad involves choosing a good bank. It’s necessary to have a bank account that gives you the flexibility to travel as a nomad without charging high fees in foreign countries.
Picking the right bank helps eliminate stress and allows you to save money on transaction fees when using your card abroad or when receiving income from clients in other countries.
If you wish to become a digital nomad, sign up for a traveling credit card. It will not charge you any fees on foreign transactions, which can be as high as five percent. Furthermore, you can also find bank and credit cards that reward you with bonus points for purchases on flight tickets, etc.
You are likely to encounter expensive roaming charges, assuming you have a local phone plan. The digital lifestyle does not have boundaries, so it would be wise to adopt an affordable data plan to make it easy to deal with international customers. Either purchase a local prepaid SIM card with inexpensive internet data or stay connected to high-speed WiFi.
4. Learn how to be a minimalist
When traveling full-time it’s important to know how to be a minimalist to some degree. Most places you will stay at comes fully furnished and at the same time, you’re only able to bring a limited amount of stuff when travelling.
The better you become at packing and only bringing the essentials, to less stress you will have related to relocating. Make sure you have all the necessary items to stay productive. A good work setup is your first priority as a digital nomad.
5. Set yourself up for success
Setting yourself up for success is all about planning, hard work, and consistency.
Planning both work and travel ahead of time will be crucial for your success as a digital nomad. You need an overall plan, where you always think a few steps ahead.
The freedom that comes with working remotely and the excitement that comes with travelling as a digital nomad can sometimes come in the way of work.
It takes a lot of discipline and structure to become successful as a digital nomad, and you need to have a mindset that puts work before everything else.
Those who find the right balance will enjoy all the benefits, while those who struggle with being structured and consistent can end up with burnouts and stress. The lifestyle is amazing. However, it often comes with constant change and unforeseen events, so you need to be able to thrive in such an environment.
When embarking on a digital nomad journey, timezones are an important factor to consider. It shouldn’t be a burden for your clients that you are travelling and working remotely, so always put their needs first, and be available according to their schedule. The best way to do this is by making sure you are based in the same time zone.
Another thing to consider is to place yourself in the right environment. Staying around people who also work remotely will be far more motivating and useful than staying in tourist areas surrounded by backpackers and people on vacation.
Finding a coworking space is a great way to build structure into your daily life despite changing environments and new destinations.
Last but not least, set goals for yourself so you don’t get caught up!
The most successful digital nomads find meaning and purpose in the destinations they are travelling to. Both on a personal and professional level. Having clear goals will make the journey more transparent, so you are aware of your growth.
Freelancing vs. a remote job
In general, most digital nomads start with a remote job before considering the more independent route as a freelancer. There is a good reason for this since a remote contract with a company will offer more stability and safety. At the same time, it’s also easier to find a remote job than build a portfolio of freelance clients from one day to another.
Now let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the two work constellations:
Freelance
First, let’s take a look at what it will mean to be a freelancer. We will go over the advantages and the disadvantages of being independent, so you can figure out if it will be the right approach for you.
What are the advantages of freelancing?
Being freelance comes with an extended amount of freedom. You are not working for anyone. You are your own boss and employee. It’s like running a one-man show where you are the actor, producer, and director. Set up your hourly rates and sell your skills to international customers.
Furthermore, if you are not a fan of a project, simply don’t take it. You got control over your workload, but it’s also your responsibility to fill up the pipeline every month.
There is no strict office timing either. You can work early morning and take a siesta during the afternoon. Or work late at night to find time to explore a new destination during the day. It will be up to you to manage your schedule, as long as you can meet the deadlines.
Having a flexible schedule without fixed office hours will also allow you to work with clients in different time zones, and it will not restrict you to the places you can go as a digital nomad.
However, it’s still important to remember that clients come first, so you should always plan your calls and meeting to make them fit their schedule and time zone. Just like deadlines and work always have to come before adventure and free-time activities. It takes a lot of discipline to be your own boss.
What are the disadvantages of freelancing?
Freelancers get no additional benefits such as covered travel costs or medical allowance. There is no nest egg for retirement either. Therefore, insurance is likely to be expensive, and you will need to save for unforeseen events.
What you make is what you get. The financial reward can be better as a freelancer but it comes at a higher risk and unpredictability. A freelancer should have a backup plan in case of personal emergencies, loss of clients, or simple needs such as vacation.
Freelancers have a varying income and they would have to work extra hard for increased financial compensation. Many gigs will be on a month-to-month basis, so there is high volatility related to their income. Some months might be very profitable, but at other times, it might be hard to find enough work to cover the monthly bills.
It takes a lot of discipline and structure to run a freelance business and you need to do administrative work such as accounting and taxes declaration. As a freelancer, you create your own success and it’s hard work, but it can be very rewarding.
Remote job
Remote jobs kind of offer the opposite advantages and disadvantages of being freelance.
In general, most digital nomads start with a remote job before considering the more independent route as a freelancer. There is a good reason for this since a remote contract with a company will offer more stability and safety. At the same time, it’s also easier to find a remote job than build a portfolio of freelance clients from one day to another.
Now, let’s go over the advantages and disadvantages. Here is what you need to know about working full-time from home:
What are the advantages of a remote job?
Compared to being freelance, a remote job provides a consistent income and more structure around your work. All you need to do is focus on your daily tasks and your boss will plan your workload.
A remote job with a corporate contract also comes with benefits, such as health care, pension savings, paid sick leave, a notice period, and much more.
Similar to being freelance, a remote job lets you work from anywhere. There is no need to wake up an hour before because you have a long commute to the office. Simply get dressed, enjoy your breakfast, turn on the computer, and get to work. The extra time gained can be spent more wisely on family time and sports activities.
Having a remote job comes with a lot of freedom. You are free to choose your city of residence, office facilities, and more. All this impacts your overall work-life balance and can also help you save money.
What are the disadvantages of a remote job?
If you are a very social person, getting a remote job may not suit your personality. Interactions are limited to emails, WhatsApp messages, and Zoom calls.
A way to overcome loneliness with a remote job and build healthy social relations is by joining a coworking space, where you see other like-minded people every day.
Although a remote job gives you plenty of freedom and flexibility, you still have to adhere to the company’s schedule, so you will most likely need to be based in the same timezone and follow their office hours.
6 Best Entry Level jobs for Digital Nomads
The following nomadic jobs are taking over the world. Cross-check your resume with the job descriptions and choose a profession that suits your skills.
Copywriter
Copywriting is a good profession to kick off your digital nomad journey if you possess excellent writing skills and know your way around grammar. A copywriter is responsible for written communication between a company and its audience/customers.
Regardless of the writing medium, a copywriter’s primary goal is to; understand the readers and educate them on a specific topic, help them solve a problem, or influence their way of thinking. All good content should be appealing to the audience and focus on their needs. The way a brand choose to communicate with their readers becomes part of their DNA.
A copywriter formulates emails, product descriptions, billboards text, case studies, white papers, blog posts, and much more. The most sucessfull copywriters even start their own travel blog to document their nomad journey or to share knowledge about their passions and hobbies.
Excellent writing skills have always been in high demand among companies, so there are plenty of job opportunities within this profession.
As a copywriter, you can also get hired to do edits and proofreading for companies and other writers to ensure high-quality content through the correct use of grammar and wording.
Virtual assistant
A virtual assistant is the first point of contact on email and phone and needs to help their boss schedule and optimize time.
This entry-level digital nomad job performs administrative tasks and takes care of administrative things like; booking travel appointments, scheduling meetings, organizing work tasks, and much more.
A competent virtual assistant might also be able to do bookkeeping and take care of taxes.
If you want to become a virtual assistant, you need to be structured, have a strong sense of responsibility, and possess skills useful for planning and communication.
Social media manager
A social media manager will help companies manage their social media profiles and define their visual appearance and customer relations. Nowadays, a strong social media presence is a crucial success factor for any company regardless of industry or niche.
A social media manager creates daily posts across a brand’s social media channels and is also responsible for listening to and answering customer queries on all social media platforms. They will also help with the overall brand strategy as they are responsible for the visual appearance on social media.
Having skills within paid advertising on social media platforms can be a big plus for anyone who wants to become a social media manager, but it is not a must. If you know how to run profitable ad-campagins on social media platforms like Facebook and Pinterest, then you’re able to help with the strategy for paid traffic.
The work of a social media manager suits digital nomads well because it is easy to do remotely. The changing destinations that come with a nomadic lifestyle can even be beneficial for content creation and meeting with influencers.
Customer service representative
It might not be your initial dream job, but the customer service industry provides the perfect digital nomad job for beginners – the entry-level is low, and the job offers are many.
Working in customer service or support provides a structured job that offers a fair salary and the freedom of working remotely.
It does not require a certification or a certain degree to become a customer service representative, as long as you possess empathy and good communication skills. The company will educate you on everything else there is to know regarding products, company history, etc. They will also provide the necessary resources to help you find answers, check order statuses, make refunds, etc.
A virtual customer service representative will assist the customers with billing, order tracking, product questions, and other general requests. You will assist the customers through email, phone, or both.
If you find the right company with products you have a passion for, this remote job will be a fun journey and a great starting point as a digital nomad. The job has a strict schedule, but the benefit is that your responsibilities end with your daily shifts. So it’s easy to create a good work-life balance.
Online language tutor
The online teaching industry is growing at a rapid pace, and there are many ways to tap into this opportunity as a digital nomad. Becoming a language tutor is one of the most popular and easiest ways to get started. An online language tutor will prepare and do one-to-one lessons with students who desire to learn a foreign language. It has become an entry-level remote job because of innovative platforms that help facilitate the contact between students and teachers and provide an “online classroom”.
The online teacher will assess and monitor students’ progress by exhibiting proficiency in the learning software. They must adapt to the student’s needs and requirements to make an individual learning plan.
Furthermore, digital nomads can also find students when travelling to new countries. This is a great way to diversify your work and student portfolio if you don’t like spending all day in front of a computer.
If you don’t speak any foreign languages, don’t worry! There are plenty of other ways for you to become an online tutor. Make a list of all your skills and browse teaching platforms to get inspiration and find the right path.
Website tester
As a website tester, it is in your job description to evaluate the website experience. You will act as a regular user and assess the design, layout, and usability of a website. They will later convey the feedback to the client.
There are plenty of companies that offer these types of jobs including, UserTesting, Enroll, WhatUsersDo, and many others.
How to get a remote job with no experience?
By now, you may be asking yourself: how do I get a remote job with no experience? Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to approach the situation.
First of all, you could ask your current employer if working remotely is possible. If your job is primarily computer-based, the employer is likely to approve. The COVID-19 pandemic made a lot of companies realize how easy it is to adapt to a remote workforce. It can make the employees happier and benefit the company, as they can cut costs on things like office facilities and daily supplies. So many companies have become more open to the possibility in recent years. If you don’t ask, you would never know, right?
Another way to get a remote job with no experience is to look into some of the opportunities we will highlight on the list or search for companies that hire remote employees. Find a company you would love to work with, make sure you have the right qualifications and skills for the position, and send them a job application with your resume.
However, there is always more you can do, such as:
Make your intention clear
You may want to work in graphic design or the writing industry. Alas, you have no experience. However, the hope is not over yet.
Join a LinkedIn group or network to communicate with individuals in the same boat as you. Show your willingness to learn and adapt to a dynamic, remote professional setting.
Establish trust
Employers are less likely to hire individuals if they do not have the intended experience level. However, networking establishes the missing trust, making employers more flexible and open-minded. Figure out who is in charge of HR and reach out to the person on LinkedIn to introduce yourself.
Also, take a look at your network and ask a friend or a family member for help. Someone in your network might be able to refer you to a company.
Be mindfull when applying
How to get a remote job with no experience requires the individual to apply thoughtfully. Applying to every company that offers a remote position is not wise if you do not fulfill the criteria.
Apply to companies that match your experience and skills, or have a low entry-level. It will increase your odds, and the company will know that you did your research.
Do things differently to get noticed
If you find the job position exciting and the entry-level is low, there might be a lot of applicants and competition. If none of the strategies are coming to fruition, try to do things differently to get noticed. Try to send a video application, do some research on the company, and come up with some new ideas for them.
There are many ways to go the extra mile when applying for a job, and it’s up to you to come up with a creative approach to stand out. This is the best tool for making up for having no experience.
Use Freelance platforms
If you want to go the freelance route, you should know about these platforms. Their services can get you off to a good start by making the process of finding new clients easy and safe. The platforms will allow you to display your skills and services to a large audience worldwide.
UpWork
The most widespread freelance platform is Upwork. It connects freelancers to clients on a global stage. However, it works opposite to Fiverr as it is the freelance who has to approach the company. The company posts a task and the freelancer must submit a proposal that focuses on their talent to convince the client to work with them.
Freelancers will browse the initial screen for jobs. Later on, they will submit a proposal where Upwork will keep a 20% commission. However, the freelancer can set an hourly rate too. The withdrawal options include PayPal, bank account, and wire transfer.
TopTal
Another freelance site to mention is Toptal. The website is filled with qualified individuals at the top of their fields. Furthermore, the categories are very diverse too. These range from financial consultants, product managers, and web designers.
However, the freelancer must pass an English evaluation before being approved for work. The score will determine the frequency your profile is displayed at the forefront of the website. However, the application will be put on hold if the applicant fails the test.
FlexJobs
Another platform worth mentioning is Flexjobs. It is perfect for discovering job opportunities such as remote jobs, full-time, or freelancing. The job categories are very diverse and range from journalism, writing, education, and technical.
The freelancer will pay for a subscription using a credit card or PayPal account. The amount is refundable after 30 days if the freelancer is unsatisfied with the experience. However, the platform has a strict vetting process to eliminate scammers and third-party users.
Guru
Similar to UpWork, Guru allows freelancers to browse an extensive job selection and submit proposals to the client.
The platform offers free membership and a premium version which results in frequent client interaction.
